Dani Pettrey's Submerged ~Reviewed

Submerged

Dani Pettrey

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers; Original edition (May 1, 2012)
• Language: English 
• ISBN-10: 0764209825

Description:

A sabotaged plane. Two dead deep-water divers.

Yancey, Alaska was a quiet town...until the truth of what was hidden in the depths off the coast began to appear.

Bailey Craig vowed never to set foot in Yancey again. She has a past, and a reputation--and Yancey's a small town. She's returned to bury a loved one killed in the plane crash and is determined not to stay even an hour more than necessary. But then dark evidence emerges and Bailey's own expertise becomes invaluable for the case.

Cole McKenna can handle the deep-sea dives and helping the police recover evidence. He can even handle the fact that a murderer has settled in his town and doesn't appear to be moving on. But dealing with the reality of Bailey's reappearance is a tougher challenge. She broke his heart, but she is not the same girl who left Yancey. He let her down, but he's not the same guy she left behind. Can they move beyond the hurts of their pasts and find a future together?


Review:

I immediately gravitated toward the unique setting of Yancey Alaska, and devoured the suspense-filled elements of Dani Pettrey’s debut novel, Submerged. Pettrey’s command of characters and ability to inspire readers to express repeated sharp audible gasps speaks to her advanced writing skills. With carefully constructed twists and turns, Pettrey navigates Bailey Craig and Cole McKenna through a well-plotted mystery. Because Pettrey succeeds in creating such relatable and layered characters, I was deeply engaged in Bailey’s plight, not to mention that more than once I viscerally feared for her safety. Submerged—a page-turner!

Reviewed by Wendy Paine Miller 

Bonus Review:

With her debut novel, Submerged, the talented Dani Pettrey has garnered my respect and admiration while securing herself a life long fan!  Wonderfully executed, with intriguing suspense, deeply layered characters, and a beautiful setting, this novel will draw you in from beginning to end.  Bailey is an appealing character whose youthful mistakes still haunt her when she returns to her hometown, as she struggles to hold on to the forgiveness God granted her. Cole McKenna and his vibrant siblings will ensure readers will be eagerly awaiting more Alaskan Courage books, as no doubt the sparks that fly between minor characters in Submerged will fan into flame in subsequent stories. Combining a handsome and upright dive instructor, a woman desperate to break free from her past, Russian history, intrigue and romance, Submerged is a brilliant beginning to what I anticipate will be a stellar career for this talented debut author. While with a style uniquely her own, Dani’s books will entice readers of Ronie Kendig, Robin Caroll and Lynette Eason and I can’t wait for more!

Reviewed by: Rel Mollet